A controversial Las Vegas, Nevada, Judge is in hot water over two social media posts. On January 24, Clark County District Court Judge Erika Ballou was hit with disciplinary charges filed by Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline’s Special Counsel Francis Flaherty.
According to the complaint, the first social media post cited was published while Ballou attended an iHeartRadio’s Life is Beautiful concert in Las Vegas on September 19, 2021. At 10:46 p.m. Ballou posted what the charging document describes as “inappropriate statements about her judicial duties.”
Ballou wrote,
Life is STILL beautiful, despite the fact that Bille Eilish doesn’t START for 30 minutes and I have an 8:30 calendar tomorrow.
Ballou’s Instagram post included hashtags that read “VacateTheS–tOuttaOutofCustodyCases” and #WherelnTheWorldIsCarmenSanDiego.”
Special Counsel Flaherty alleges that this post violates several codes of judicial conduct, including a rule requiring judges “to comply with the law.” Ballou is also accused of violating rules about refraining from actions that might lead to reasonable questions over “the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary,” and that judicial duties shall take “precedence over all of a judge’s personal and extrajudicial activities.”
The second social media post included in the charging document shows the bikini-clad judge in a hot tub in April 2022. The judge poses with two individuals, one a shirtless male and another a bikini-wearing female. The charging document indicates these individuals are “two members of the public defender’s office.” Reports have identified the individuals as Robson Hauers and Shauna Browers.
The caption posted on Facebook read, “Robson is surrounded by great tits.”
Flaherty alleges the same rules were violated as previously outlined, and an additional rule prohibiting judges to “convey or permit others to convey the impression that any person or organization is in a position to influence the judge.”
Following the conduct charges being filed against her, Judge Ballou is reported to have responded to the allegations by more off-color social media posting. On Facebook, Ballou posted Cardi B rap lyrics from the song ‘Get Up 10’ that read,
Went from makin’ tuna sandwiches to makin’ the news, started speakin’ my mind and tripled my views. Get money, go hard, you’re [expletive] right, Never been a fraud in my [expletive] life. Get money, go hard, damn [expletive] right. Stunt on these [expletive] out of [expletive] spite.
Translating the urban linguistics for clarity, the Judge appears to suggest that “making the news” for being charged with multiple ethics violations is good for her clout, popularity, and internet audience reach. Further, while the public has concerns about the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, according to these lyrics, what is really happening is that she’s just “stuntin”” on us… b****** out of motherf******* spite.”
It’s safe to conclude that posting these lyrics didn’t have the effect of restoring integrity and confidence in the judiciary.
Since being sworn in on January 4, 2021, Judge Ballou has led a tenure filled with controversy. In 2022, Ballou was asked to resign by the Las Vegas Police Protective Union and then-Sheriff Joe Lombardo over racially driven anti-law enforcement comments made from the bench. Lombardo is now the Governor of Nevada.
Today, I’m calling upon Clark County District Court Judge Erika Ballou to resign, and I’m also calling upon Governor Sisolak to demand Judge Ballou’s resignation. Read my full statement below. pic.twitter.com/hV7fmuc5Ke
— Joe Lombardo (@JoeLombardoNV) July 15, 2022
While serving as a deputy public defender in 2016, Ballou made waves within the judiciary by refusing to remove a Black Lives Matter lapel pin.
As previously reported:
In 2016, as a deputy public defender, Ballou wore a Black Lives Matter pin in court where she was asked by then-District Court Judge Douglas Herndon — who now sits on the Nevada State Supreme Court — to remove the pin on the basis of it being political speech that isn’t in line with viewpoint-neutrality in the courtroom. Ballou reportedly admitted she knew wearing the pin would be controversial after the police union sent a letter to judges regarding BLM propaganda being espoused in courtrooms. Yes, the same union she is still at odds with, six years later. Ballou did oblige and eventually removed the pin but continued to wear a black armband along with her supporters in the audience.
A date for a public hearing of Ballou’s ethics charges has not been set.
